| 摘要 |
<p>Virtually random and on-demand access is provided to a virtually unlimited number of subscribers by partitioning the video program into an ordered sequence of n segments and providing the subscribers concurrent access to each of the n subsequences. A data stream representative of the video program is positioned into n subsequences, each representative of one of the n segments. The data of each of the n subsequences is organized as ordered sequence of elements. The elements of each of the n subsequences are interleaved and the interleaved data stream is continuously transmitted over a video program distribution medium at a rate which renders the data representing each segment concurrently available to any subscriber having a receiver capable of selecting, assembling, and displaying the data of a particular segment. The data stream can be compressed prior to interleaving using one of many known video data compression standards and techniques. Data compression can be performed in real time, or iteratively using software. The interleaved data stream can be transmitted in real time, or it can be stored on a storage device such as a hard disk or optical disk for later retrieval and transmission. The interleaved data stream can be ordered using any known standard by which video data is transmitted for reconstruction and display by a receiver. Data can be inserted into the interleaved data stream to inform the receiver to which of the n segments a portion of the interleaved data stream belongs, as well as the encoding level necessary for decompression of the data and time stamps to indicate order of display. Thus, the receiver may begin reconstruction from the beginning of the video program by selecting, assembling, decompressing and displaying the data making up the first segment during a first complete transmission of the interleaved data stream, and performing the same function for the succeeding segments during subsequent transmissions. The receiver can also be programmed to reconstruct any of the n segments in no particular order, approximating random access to the video program.</p> |
